Lap shelf for ironing machines



May 21, .1946.

F. M. FREls LAP SHELF FQR 'IRONING MACHINES 'F-ild April 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 IN VEN TOR.

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BY 4 I F. M; FREIS I LAP SHELF FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed ,April 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: fiedenckflflew,

May 21, 1946- Patenied May 21, 1946 LAP SHELF FOR IRONI-NG MACHINES Frederick M. Freis,(lh icago, Ill., assignor to Conlon Corporation; Cicero, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 26, 1943', serial No. 484,566

, Claims. 01; es- 64 The present invention relates to an'improvement in an ironing machine, and more particu: larly to the provision of an auxiliary shelf providing an extension of the top plate or cloth pan of the ironing machine.

My invention is directed to the provision of an auxiliary or lap shelf with means for mounterators lap. Further, the shelf of the present invention may be utilized to support the ironed portions of articles of unusual length. More specifically, in the preferred form of my invention I provide a lap shelf andmeans for mounting it in relation to the cloth pan and the ironing roll of an ironing machine, so that the shelf may be disposed in an inoperative position lying .upon the upper surface of the cloth pan, within theedges thereof and between it and the roll, or in an op erative position extending beyond the front edge of the cloth pan to form, in effect, an extension thereof. I also provide supporting means adapted to be positioned to support the lap shelf in its extended or operative position. A. preferred constructioncomprises a cloth pan having a depending flange along at least its front edge and a reinforcing angle member extending longitudinally of the cloth pan and secured to the under facethereof, the depending. flange and the reinforcing angle member 'slidably receiving a pair of rod members each having a stop element at one end for limiting their outward movement by engagement with the reinforcing angle member and a handle member connecting together the other ends of the rods, the rods and handle in their extended or withdrawn position providing a support for the lap shelf in its extended or operative position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of an ironing machine with the present invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1 illustrating the lap shelf in its inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 2, showing the lap shelf in its extended or operative'positionj.

Figure 4 is an end view of the machine of Figure 1 showing the lap shelf in its inoperative position with a cover member for closing the top of the ironing. machine in position uponthe machine; and

Figure 5 is a detailvertical sectional view taken substantiallyon thgline 55 of Figure 3 and looking inthedirection indicated by the arrows.-

The lap shelf of the present invention is intended for use in an'ironing machine having a cloth pan aboverwhichan ironing roll is disposed, generally similar,.for example, to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 408,703, filed August 29, 194 or in Patent No. 2,026,345, issued December'31, 1935, to Rudolph W; Janda, having a stand similar to that shown in Patent No. 2,229,046, issued January'21, 1941, to Edward B. Carson. The ironing machines of the Janda patent and my earlier application are provided witha box-like. cover suitably mounted upon the stand formovement'into one position to enclose the"cooperating ironing members and associated 7 parts, and into a second position to expose the cooperating ironing members in the use of the machine. Theiclothpan. is provided adjacent one end thereof .withan opening through which a gearfhousing extends'such gear housing having associated therewith suitable means for supportmay the roll ofv the. machine and suitable means for supp0rting,and:operating the shoehwhich cooperates with the roll; The lap shelf of the instant invention isof a character which may be disposed in an inoperative position lying upon the cloth panwithin the perimeter thereof, so that when themachine is not inuse the box-like cover maybe disposed in its closed position, and when the machine ,is to be used, upon opening of the coverTthe laplshelfqmay be extended to form a supporting surface extending horizontally beyond theT'front edge of .the cloth pan to in effect form anrextensionof the latter.

Referring"v now to" the drawings, I have shown an ironing machine! comprising a sheet metal cloth'pan '8, rectangular in plan and having a depending peripheral flange 9, a gear housing Iii adjacent one end of cloth pan 8, cubiform end structures or'legs li supporting cloth part8, and reinforcing angle strips l2 spot weldedv to the under face of cloth pan 8 spaced from the front and theback, and extending substantially the full length thereof. A roll-l3, extends inwardly from gear housing Illover cloth pan 8 and a cooperating' shoe H is mounted in acket ro11l3 for moveearlier application and to the above J anda patent for a more detail description of suitable mountings of the electric motor, if desired. It is to be understood that my'invention is applicable to an ironing machine of any other suitable construc tion, comprising a cooperating roll and shoe and an underlying cloth pan, with appropriate operating mechanisms.

A lap shelf [6, preferably formed of sheet metal of suitable gauge, of rectangular shape in plan is provided, at least along its front edge, with a depending flange l1. As shown in full lines in Figures 1, 2, 4, and in dotted lines in Figure 5, the shelf I6 is in its inoperative position, disposed h'orizontally upon the. upper surface of the top plate 8 between it and the roll l3. It will be seen that when the plate is in this position a box-like cover 0, hinged to the back of top plate, may be disposed in closed position enclosing the roll and shoe and associated parts, including shelf I6, as in Figure 4.

A crank 19 of substantially U-shape is provided with outturned end portions 20 which are pivotally mounted in brackets 2| which are spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper face of the top plate 8 adjacent the front edge thereof. The bight end portion 22 of the lever l9 connecting the parallel end arms 23, is pivotally connected to shelf l6 by means of brackets 24 spot Welded to the underfaoe of shelf I6 at the ends of bight portion 22 adjacent the end arms 23. The length of the end arms 23 of crank I9 is such that the lap shelf may be positioned in an inoperative position, wherein it lies upon the upper surface of the top plate 8 between it and the,

roll I3, as shown in Figure 2, or in an operative position extending forwardly beyond the front edge of the top plate 8, as shown in Figure 3 and the full line position of Figure 5. The arrangement of the crank lever l9 and its pivotal mountings to the top plate 8 and the lap shelf l3 are so designed and proportioned that the shelf may be swung to clear the ironing roll l3 during its movement to either its operative or inoperative positions, selectively; Preferably the upper surface of the lap shelf 16 adjacent its rear edge is inclined slightly downwardly as at 25 to facilitate passage thereunto, from top plate 8, of articles being ironed.

In order to provide a support for the lap shelf in its extended or operative position, I provide a pair of rods 26 which pass through suitable openings formed in the depending flange 9 of the top plate and through the depending vertical portion of the forward reinforcing angle member [2. The rods 21 are each provided adjacent their inner ends with stop elements 21 which limits the outward movement of the rods by engaging the depending vertical portion of the rearward reinforcing angle member l2. The other ends of the rods 26 are suitably secured in a handle 28 for moving the rods 26 into desired position. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed, the handle is shown as extending outwardly beyond the front edge of the top plate, but it will be obvious that if desired the front edge of the top plate could be recessed to receive the handle, if it desired to provide an apparatus having no protrusions extending beyond the perimeter of the top plate.

A bracket or supporting member 29 is secured to the underface of the lap shelf substantially centrally thereof and adjacent the front edge of the lap shelf to provide a rest or a support engaging the handle 28 to support the lap shelf in a horizontal position when extended to its operative position.

While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ironing machine comprising a substantially rectangular top plate having a depending flange extending along the front longitudinal edge thereof, a reinforcing strip secured to the underface of said top plate and extending longitudinally thereof and an ironing roll spaced above said top plate, a substantially rectangular lap shelf having a depending flange along its front edge, a crank pivotally connected to said top plate and said lap shelf whereby the latter is adapted to be disposed in a first position horizontally upon said top plate within the perimeter thereof and between it and said roll, and in a second position with the depending flange thereof extending beyond the depending flange of said top plate, selectively, a supporting member fixed to the under face of said lap shelf adjacent the depending flange thereof, a pair of rods slidably mounted in the depending flanges of said top plate and said reinforcing strip for sliding movement transversely thereof, stop elements at one end of said rods for engaging said reinforcing strip to limit the outward sliding movement of said rods, and a handle at the other end of said rods, said handle being adapted to engage the supporting member of said lap shelf in the extended positions of said rods and said lap shelf.

2. In combination with an ironing machine having a top plate and an ironing roll spaced above said top plate, a lap shelf between said top plate and said ironing roll, and a substantially U-shaped crank having its bight portion pivotally connected to the under face of said shelf with the free ends of the legs of said crank being pivotally connected to the upper face of said top plate for movement about a fixed axis whereby said shelf is positionable in a first position upon said top plate within the edges thereof and between it and said roll, and in a second position extending beyond an edge of said 'top plate, selectively. A

3. In combination with an ironing machine comprising, a substantially rectangular top plate having a depending flange along its front edge, a reenforcing strip secured to th'e u'nder face of said top plate and extending longitudinally thereof, and an ironing roll spaced above said top plate, a lap shelf, a substantially U-shaped crank having its bight portion pivotally connected to the under face of said shelf with the free ends of the legs of said crank being pivotally connected to the upper face of said top plate for movement about a fixed axis, whereby said lap shelf is adapted to be disposed in a first position upon the upperface of said top plate within the perimeter thereof between it and said'roll, and in a second position extending in part at least horizontally outward beyond said flange, selectively,

and supporting means slidably mounted in said depending flange and said reenforcing strip positionable to support said lap shelf in its second position. I

4. In combination with an ironing machine comprising, a top plate and an ironing roll spaced above said top plate, a lap shelf between saidtop plate and said ironing roll, said lap shelf having a depending flange about its perimeter, and crank means between the upper face of said top plate and the under face of said lap shelf within the depending flange of the latter, said crank means being pivotally connected to the under face of said shelf and being pivotally connected to the upper face of said top plate for movement about a fixed axis, whereby said lap shelf is adapted to be disposed in a first position upon the upper face of said top plate within the perimeter thereof between it and said roll, and in a second position extending outwardly beyond an edge of said top plate, respectively,

5. In combination with an ironing machine having a top plate and an ironing roll spaced thereabove, a lap shelf between said plate and roll, and mounting means between said shelf and plate pivotally mounted on the upper face 'of the latter for movement about a fixed axis through an angle of approximately 180 and pivotally connected to the under face of said shelf, whereby said shelf is movable to a first position over lying said plate within the confines thereof between said plate and roll and to a second position overlying said plate and extending beyond an edge thereof, selectively, with the same surface of said shelf uppermost in both of said positions thereof, said mounting means being disposed beneath said shelf within the outline thereof in both of said positions of the latter.

FREDERICK M. FREIS. 

